Christopher A. Wray, a former assistant attorney general and longtime private attorney, was announced as President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next FBI director.

The president hailed Wray's "impeccable credentials" in an early-morning tweet. The qualifications include a run in federal courts and a stint in the Department of Justice, though his career since has been rooted in the private sector litigating white-collar cases with the international firm King & Spalding.

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"He is an impeccably qualified individual," Trump said in a statement, "and I know that he will again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity once the Senate confirms him to lead the FBI."

A rundown on the nominee:

He's a Yalie

Wray graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1989, received his law degree from the school in 1992 and served as executive editor of the Yale Law Journal.

He got his start in federal courts

After leaving Yale, Wray was a law clerk for Judge J. Michael Litting of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1993, receiving more federal appellate experience with the Eleventh Circuit. He would go into private practice in Atlanta in 1993.

While it is nearly a quarter-century since Wray was there, the Fourth Circuit has earned Trump's ire recently for refusing to reinstate his administration's proposed travel ban.

He made a quick rise in the DOJ

Wray started with the Department of Justice as the assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, serving from 1997 to 2001. He was appointed an associate deputy attorney general in May 2001 and became the principal associate deputy later that year.

From 2003 to 2005, Wray was the assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division, confirmed unanimously by the Senate for the role. His position included leading investigations into corporate fraud, including the Enron scandal.

In 2005, he was given the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the DOJ's highest honor for public service.

He gives 'straight answers without blowing smoke'

Since leaving the DOJ, Wray's career with King & Spalding has been focused on representing large companies and institutions in investigations involving U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country.

The independent legal journal Chambers USA says Wray is a "top-notch advocate who can provide counsel on the toughest issues, and he "brings instant credibility and will give you straight answers without blowing smoke."

He played a role in the 'Bridgegate' fallout

Wray represented New Jersey Governor and Trump ally Chris Christie in an investigation that saw two aides convicted for plotting to close bridge lanes to punish a Democratic politician who wouldn't endorse Christie.

Christie met Wray when the governor was the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey and said he worked with Wray "a lot."

“I have the utmost confidence in Chris. He’s an outstanding lawyer. He has absolute integrity and honesty, and I think that the president certainly would not be making a mistake if he asked Chris Wray to be FBI director,” Christie said.

He had praise for Sally Yates

In 2015, Wray signed a letter from his law firm to the Senate judiciary committee endorsing Yates to become deputy attorney general. The letter praised Yates for "extraordinary legal skill and judgement."

Trump fired Yates, who was serving as acting attorney general, shortly after he took office for refusing to enforce the travel ban.